Panthers comeback falls short in loss to Moncton
The UPEI Panthers were headed toward a magical finish in Wednesday night’s anticipated home opener, but then the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues spoiled the party in the final moments to come away with a 3-2 win.
By Thomas Becker
The UPEI Panthers were headed toward a magical finish in Wednesday night's anticipated home opener, but then the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues spoiled the party in the final moments to come away with a 3-2 win.
Moncton's Shani Rossignol delivered the definitive blow with less than four minutes remaining in regulation, as she beat goaltender Sarah Forsythe on a power play goal set up by Cassandra Call.
The Panthers (0-1) were playing from behind for most of the game and didn't find the equalizer until 8:07 of the third period when Sophie Bujold got the best of goaltender Audrey Berthiaume with a beautiful goal. Momentum clearly shifted UPEI's way, but a costly tripping penalty by Rachel Richards gave the Aigles Bleues (1-0) the final push they needed to come away victorious.
Rossignol, who was named Moncton's Player of the Game, set up the opening goal at 5:05 of the first period. The third-year forward forced a turnover in the slot and took a couple hacks at the puck before it slid in front to Maritza Labrie, who pushed it by Forsythe before she could cover the other side of the net.
Aside from the quick goal, the two teams were evenly matched throughout the opening frame where Moncton led 1-0.
The visitors blitzed the Panthers again in the early second period and added to their just 2:09 into the frame. Moncton forced a turnover in the neutral zone leading to an odd-man rush where Elodie St. Jacques centred a pass to Amelie Vachon, who beat Forsythe as she crashed into the net.
The Panthers still had plenty to say in this game and scored four minutes later when Stephanie Leger (UPEI's Player of the Game) took a deflected puck and fired a shot from a difficult angle that hit off Berthiaume and landed in the back of the net.
UPEI came out of the second intermission strong and looked like the better team. They were rewarded for the effort with Bujold's tying goal, but they couldn't complete the comeback in the end as Rossignol put away the winner at 16:13.
The Panthers will look for their first win Friday night when they travel to Fredericton to take on the St. Thomas Tommies, while Moncton hosts UNB in their home opener.
Photo Credit: Janessa Vanden Broek
